Pens15 wrote:I don't know who was attacking his character. Some folks have expressed concern over whether he'll stay with the Pens. Maybe he will, maybe he won't. To me it sounds like he's keeping his options open.

He's not doing anything right now. If he doesn't sign a contract this summer, then he's keeping his options open.

Pens15 wrote:I don't know who was attacking his character. Some folks have expressed concern over whether he'll stay with the Pens. Maybe he will, maybe he won't. To me it sounds like he's keeping his options open.

He's not doing anything right now. If he doesn't sign a contract this summer, then he's keeping his options open.

Well, put it this way. I didn't take the quotes from that article as particularly reassuring. Nor did I take them as alarming. They seemed pretty political to me.

Pens15 wrote:Well, put it this way. I didn't take the quotes from that article as particularly reassuring. Nor did I take them as alarming. They seemed pretty political to me.

That's something any player who doesn't have a perfect command on english will deal with. Unfairly or not it's probably the main reason people would question him - exactly what he says or means can be lost in the translation.

There's also the idea that an athlete of his caliber would be willing to take a pay cut or play second fiddle to someone else. Lebron James was the king of all Cleveland sports and not even that and being paid a max salary was good enough for him.

pittsoccer33 wrote:There's also the idea that an athlete of his caliber would be willing to take a pay cut or play second fiddle to someone else. Lebron James was the king of all Cleveland sports and not even that and being paid a max salary was good enough for him.

True. More reassuring to me was an article from last week in which Geno was quoted as saying he likes playing with Sid and wants to continue playing for the Penguins because he knows teams that win championships have two great players. I think he realizes that he could go to another team, make more money, and be the team's one big name, but that doesn't necessarily get you championships.

llipgh2 wrote:I wish I could remember where I read it, but Sid (supposedly) said he knows Geno will become the highest paid Pens player. And he's fine with it.

I remember reading that as well, and Sid and Shero talked about it and Sid doesn't mind being the second highest paid player on the Pens.

I'm not worried at all about Malkin. He will sign with the Pens IMO. The only threat is if he wants to go back home to Russia and play in the KHL. But within the NHL, I think he will be a Pen for the 2 years left on his contract plus 8 more on his next.

llipgh2 wrote:I wish I could remember where I read it, but Sid (supposedly) said he knows Geno will become the highest paid Pens player. And he's fine with it.

Crosby isn't dumb and he understands the business side of things with the new CBA and things of that nature. Plus, it could be argued that Gene is just as good if not better than Sid and should be paid accordingly. I mean, people were saying back in 09 that 'Crosby isn't even the best player on the Pens' and through no fault of his own with the injuries and lack of playing time, it hasn't gotten any better for him in that regard.

shmenguin wrote:i don't think staal should have been traded, even though we knew he wasn't re-signing. i'd say the same thing for malkin.

I have no issue what so ever with Staal being traded. I think it was known on both sides he wanted to move on.

i think you take your shot to win it all while you have the players. giving up staal makes our team better next season, but worse this season. and since we should be in "win now" mode, that doesn't add up for me.

shmenguin wrote:i don't think staal should have been traded, even though we knew he wasn't re-signing. i'd say the same thing for malkin.

I have no issue what so ever with Staal being traded. I think it was known on both sides he wanted to move on.

i think you take your shot to win it all while you have the players. giving up staal makes our team better next season, but worse this season. and since we should be in "win now" mode, that doesn't add up for me.

I think you have to balance it. Staal is not a make it or break it type player. Crosby and Malkin are.

The core is still there to win a championship. Both this year and in the future. Staal didn't change that one way or another IMO.